LAS VEGAS (AP) - UNLV (14-11, 6-6 Mountain West Conference) broke through
with an 18-2 run midway through the second half, including two three-point plays
from Umeh and a 3-pointer from Beck with 5:10 to play that capped the rally and
gave UNLV a 53-46 lead.
The Rebels held on late thanks to a shot clock-beating 3-pointer from Odartey Blankson and a 5-for-5 effort at the foul line from Ricky Morgan.
Blankson had nine points and six rebounds for the Rebels.
Air Force (16-11, 7-4) only connected on three field goals in the final
12:13. The Falcons have lost four of their last five games.
Antoine Hood led Air Force with 17 points, and Nick Welch had 15 points, six
assists and six rebounds.
The Falcons led the entire first half, using a pair of 3-pointers from Welch
to open an 18-9 lead with 7:16 to play in the half.
AIR FORCE (16-11)
Burtschi 2-9 3-4 8, Nwaelele 1-5 0-0 2, Welch 6-10 0-0 15, Keller 1-3 0-0 2,
An.Hood 7-12 1-1 17, McCraw 2-8 2-2 8, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Holum 1-4 2-2 5,
Buchanan 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-53 8-9 57.
UNLV (14-11)
Blankson 2-5 3-4 9, Hannan 0-2 2-2 2, Amundson 2-4 0-2 4, Umeh 6-11 3-5 15,
Morgan 1-2 5-5 7, Beck 5-7 7-8 20, Terry 0-1 0-0 0, Blassingame 0-0 0-0 0,
Anthony 2-2 0-0 4, Villepigue 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-36 20-26 63.
Halftime-Air Force 30-24.
3-Point Goals-Air Force 9-31 (Welch 3-7, An.Hood 2-4, McCraw
2-5, Holum 1-3, Burtschi 1-7, Nwaelele 0-1, Buchanan 0-2, Keller 0-2), UNLV 5-11
(Beck 3-4, Blankson 2-3, Umeh 0-1, Villepigue 0-1, Hannan 0-2).
Fouled Out-None.
Rebounds-Air Force 28 (Welch 6), UNLV 73 (Beck 10).
Assists-Air Force 13 (Welch 6), UNLV 9 (Blassingame, Umeh
3).
Total Fouls-Air Force 18, UNLV 15.
A-13,083.